July 2011

July 31, 2011

You may have seen this already but I've just discovered it (moving will occupy your time a bit) - and it's awesome - in this video columnist Dan Savage threatens 2012 Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum with redefining the name "Rick" as he redefined the name "Santorum". Priceless cameos from Andy Richter, Rick Dees and Ricki Lake.

If you went to camp as a kid then you know all about that all consuming crush you had on that boy in the next bed.. and tonight on Week 2 of Will Clark's Summer Camp Experience, you'll get to meet this summer's crush - the sexy and adorable XXX stud Kennedy Carter making one of his final New York appearances before going back to school.

Bring extra $ as Kennedy will be auctioning off a great jock - and you don't want to miss the opportunity to come home with your crushes underwear in your backpack, do you?

Plus, a special appearance by singer Derek Nicoletto and special cupcake treats courtesy of Cas Marino! You'll be able to buy a cupcake with a Bingo number on it - and then mark it off your card - for $5!

And if that's not enough to rock your world, the fabulous HoMo'Nique from RuPaul's Drag Race will join us for a round to promote her upcoming show at the Laurie Beechman (and we'll have tix courtesy of our friends at Spin Cycle).

And finally, if you're as big of a fan of two time Emmy winner (and Will Clark Show guest) Judy Gold, you'll be looking forward to bidding on two tickets to her new one person show, THE JUDY SHOW.

The night is sponsored by Naked Sword and SASI PR and we'll raise big buck for Braking the Cycle and of course we'll have XXX flicks and ID Lube to give away as prizes -there's always cheap booze and even cheaper men (and always, a few loose women hanging around too, we wouldn't have it any other way!)

With his first-ever solo album, "Kind Ghosts," (due July 26, 2011), Billboard-honored singer/songwriter Derek Nicoletto flaunts his knack for infusing unique pop hooks, vivid lyrical imagery and evocative instrumentation into what could be called full-bodied electropop collection of singles. Shaped by Platinum-selling producer Jamie Siegel (Taking Back Sunday, The Roots), Nicoletto’s new direction in “Kind Ghosts” highlights his pure vocal talent upon a backdrop of bubbly, yet sensitive electronica with a signature flair of rocky soulfulness.

Nicoletto shares, making “Kind Ghosts” meant examining and taking the best of what’s created me to this moment, all the joy, pain, beauty, humility, and then baring myself in a new sense of self. I could only trust Jamie Siegel to help me accomplish this task. We are so proud of the result. Today, I know that there are powers greater than myself looking out for me. Sometimes they are clear angels, like my grandfathers, sometimes they are visions that I can’t explain. I call these my “kind ghosts.” They are reflected through the snapshots of these songs and the people or experiences that have shaped me into the artist, father, son, friend, lover and stranger I am today,” Nicoletto explains. “Most of all, I’ve realized that the residue of my past contains a gorgeous, bright and child-like innocent love, incorporated here in the musical atmosphere of all the songs on “Kind Ghosts,” no matter the specific theme of each song. And looking at this constant in my life as I created this album, I realized I’m going to be all right, no matter what life brings my way. Thus, the theme of the album, as an entire piece, is the lyric from the title track. “Remember your name, sing it to the sky, go out and dance for yourself tonight. Let go, or be dragged behind. Kind ghosts will carry you home tonight.”

Previously, Nicoletto successfully fronted indie bands Telling on Trixie (an "indie rock powerhouse" - Skope Magazine) and 2010's Derek and the Darling, and turned to his fans to embark on his solo career, who funded the album entirely on Kickstarter. Charting on hundreds of FM and college stations or live on Sirius radio, Derek's songs have reached millions of people on the radio waves. His songs have been used in over 25 television programs, with a heavy usage from MTV reality and competition programs.

"Suddenly" from “Kind Ghosts” has been the soundtrack to KMart campaigns since last Fall 2010. Having penned scores of pop/rock songs for his own bands, other artists and commercial projects, Nicoletto has become a well-known voice in the independent music scene and a voting member of the Grammy Awards and now begins his long-awaited solo career with an electropop bang, as glowing and raw as the “Kind Ghost” album cover itself.

We are not just another AIDS ride. Over six years, we have built a family that loves and cares for each other year round. We laugh and cry together, we care for you like family. Each year more than two-thirds of our participants return. And together, we accomplish something amazing: In the past nine years alone, Braking the Cycle has delivered over $3.4 million to fund the HIV/AIDS services of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Along the way, we spread AIDS awareness in the towns and villages we visit. We’re a small ride, but we're a big family making a huge impact, and each year we welcome new members into the fold. More info at www.brakingthecycle.org

About The Will Clark Show

Will Clark produces and hosts a weekly fundraising event benefiting New York based non profits with four rounds of Bingo, celebrity guest callers and fabulous prizes! Part game show, part talk show and all fundraiser!

Now in it¹s seventh year, The Will Clark Show featuring P*rno Bingo has raised over $160,000 for New York LGBT charities.

The Will Clark Show is held at Pieces which can be reached via the 1 train (Christopher Street) and the ABCDEF lines (West 4th).

If you're in the mood for something jazzy, consider heading down to Iridium tonight for Terese Genecco's monthly show. I've been and she's a firecracker performer, giving an amazing show the last Tuesday of every month. She's in her third year there and single handedly reviving the art of the jazz club. Go see her but make reservations because they do sell out.

This week (Wednesday July 27th) on the Will Clark Show we have a packed PACKED lineup - porn star Kennedy Carter (Naked Sword's Golden Gate) and singer Derek Nicoletto plus a special appearance by blogger/performance artist Cas Marino who'll sell some special treats to benefit our charity, Braking the Cycle.

But we'll also have a visit from a very special guest - from the RuPaul Drag Race show, the lovely and talented HoMo'Nique!

She'll join us to call a round sharing her love and will be there to promote her new show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre which opens Friday July 29th 7:30 curtain and runs Saturday and Sunday at the same times. It's being billed as a "gay talk show", you know, like The Will Clark Show LOL :)

Catch her now because she's in special from Los Angeles. Not sure if HoMo'Nique is your bag of tricks? Then stop by the Will Clark Show Wednesday night and get a taste of the gal - consider it a free sneak peek!

July 25, 2011

There are all sorts of things that happen in our lives and if you're smart, you'll celebrate them - we all know where we were when we heard about the World Trade Center attacks, but do you remember the night Obama got elected or the night that same sex marriage became legal in New York state? We remember the bad things because they leave an emotional scar, so it's up to us to make sure the good things have an impact and leave their own type of scar - if only a good kind, that when felt give good feelings rather than sad.

As LGBT people, we often don't have as many opportunities for the good stuff - and for those of us pushed away from our biological family, the opportunities for those family milestones diminish - family weddings, a nephew or neice being born or graduating high school and even, sadly the death of a family member.

I often am kidded (gently) for celebrating my birthday for up to two months or making a big deal about Bingo anniversaries but I think it's my own way of finding the good things to celebrate, the good scars.

This past weekend I was up in Hudson, NY with friends attending the 'open to the public' wedding of Linda Mussman and Claudia Bruce. They have been together for 35 years and, as they said before they cut the cake, they hope to be together 35 more (that would make Linda 99 and Claudia 100). It's hard to find that kind of devotion and I'm glad that the world is finally waking up to celebrating the value of it in whatever form it takes.

The wedding started at 11:30 and ended seconds after midnight - we counted down the seconds to midnight - as though it were New Year's Eve rather than simply Marriage Equality Eve.. for me and the packed room full of supporters, no countdown could be more important. And when it happened, it wasn't suddenly a different world. And I realized that it wasn't different because we'd all gotten there ahead of 12:01 July 24, 2011.

When I came out, I could imagine a legal same sex wedding, but given the uphill fight, I couldn't have predicted when it would come about. And here we are. Yes there are only 6 states where it's legal, but I am amazed that it is legal anywhere. I am grateful. I am humbled. I am joyous. It is a new scar. But a good one.

July 24, 2011

20 years ago when I lived in San Francisco, my friends Gil and Kraig (who had gotten privately, non legally married - this was before even the existence of domestic partnerships) used this song as their wedding processional... and it was already a song that I equated with my first love, Jon, whom I met in London a couple years before. I've associated it with love, weddings and ceremony ever since.. Heartbreaking and beautiful, Annie is queen.

OK I'm a sucker for these things - and this is my all time favorite wedding video - random ordinary people making their wedding something really special and amazing. And clearly it resonates with 70 million people around the world. It's not for everyone but shouldn't every gay guys wedding be a bit more song and dance?

I love love LOVE this song.. been singing it all my life - this is what happens when you have an older brother and sister - you get exposed to all the best stuff, especially if the best stuff is the stuff of the 60s and 70s. I always wanted to date someone named Bill just so I could sing this song... LOL

Enjoy this on this monumentous day of Marriage Equality in New York state!